India Receives first Boeing P-8I

India is under contract with Boeing to receive eight P-8Is, including two more in 2013. The P-8I, an anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare aircraft, is a military derivative of the Boeing 737-800, and a variant of the P-8A Poseidon featured in the U.S. Navy fleet.

According to a spokesperson for Boeing, the P-8I features India-built subsystems, including speech secrecy systems produced by Electronics Corp. of India and mobile satellite systems from Avantel.

Boeing is not able to disclose the specific India-unique design features of the P-8I.

"Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) delivered the Indian-designed Data Link II for the P-8I, a communications system that will enable exchange of tactical data and messages between the Indian navy aircraft, ships and shore establishments," says Charles Ramey, spokesperson for Boeing's defense unit.